Question

Let’s say I have a setup like this:

public ActionResult Create(int someUnrelatedNumber)
{
 ...
    return View();
}

[Post]
public ActionResult Create(SomeModel model, int someUnrelatedNumber)
{
 ...
}

Is there a way to pass ‘someUnrelatedNumber’ between them without creating a view model that contains ‘SomeModel’ and ‘someUnrelatedNumber’?

Answer 1

You could use the ViewBag (or possibly even TempData if I understand what you’re trying to do), but I tend to lean towards strongly typed view models whenever possible.

http://rachelappel.com/when-to-use-viewbag-viewdata-or-tempdata-in-asp.net-mvc-3-applications

On the model binder side it will typically handle the bindings correctly, but you may have to provide hints to get it binding both SomeModel and a separate someUnrelatedNumber. Something like the following in the view.

<input type="hidden" name="someUnrelatedNumber" value="123" />
<input type="text" name="model.SomeRelatedNumber" value="123" />

etc…